Chapter 10: 10
“I don’t know if he’s easy-going, but he sure has a bad temper.”
“You think I’m ill-tempered? Hey, I’m actually pretty nice.”
“…”
Zion swallowed his silence, staring down at the bottle of liquor.
Hanette had downed nearly half the bottle and was now drunk.
Her posture was sloppy, and her voice had become a slow drawl.
“What did I say when we first met? I said I’d speak casually because I’m younger, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“But why are you speaking casually too? What does that make me?”
Hanette pointed accusingly at Zion, raising her voice.
The once quiet atmosphere shattered, and Zion quickly moved towards her.
“Calm down. Everyone’s watching us.”
“Let them watch. Who cares if a troublemaker is causing a scene?”
“… Didn’t you say you hate being called a troublemaker?”
“They can call me what they want. I’ll bash their heads with this bottle.”
Hanette grinned brightly, pointing at the bottle.
Zion was at a loss for words.
“Alright. Let’s just go home.”
“What do you know? What do you know about anything?”
“Didn’t you say to be polite? Should I start being formal now?”
“No way. Being formal is boring. Don’t do it.”
“…”
Zion tried to gather his scattered thoughts, pondering deeply.
Hanette kept changing her mind, making it impossible to keep up.
“So, do you want me to be polite or not?”
“Don’t be. If you do, I’ll feel lonely.”
Zion quickly grasped what she meant.
Before meeting the protagonist, Hanette wasn’t close to anyone.
She had no friends and kept her distance even from family.
She always felt pressured and tried to escape from her family.
“Got it. What else do you want?”
“Hmm… What can you do for me?”
“Shouldn’t I first know what you want?”
“Me? Hmm…”
Hanette squinted her eyes, leaning back.
After pondering, she turned her head.
“I always think about it. But there’s no answer. I don’t know if anything I do will work.”
“Everyone feels that way.”
“Why are you talking about everyone? Listen to me.”
“Who else would I listen to but you?”
“Really? Hehe…”
Hanette laughed it off.
Zion sighed and brought the bottle to his nose.
The strong smell indicated it was potent liquor.
‘She drank this to act tough in front of me. I should have checked earlier.’
Zion capped the bottle and pushed it aside.
He couldn’t let her drink any more, and she probably wouldn’t want to anyway.
For Hanette, alcohol was just a tool.
“So! My conclusion is… dying is the answer. If I die, I don’t have to worry.”
“Great conclusion. Planning to make me a widower?”
“We’re only engaged. How can you be a widower? Meet lots of nice women after I’m gone.”
“Do you think I’d let you die? Get a grip. Let’s go back to the mansion.”
Zion shook his head and started to stand.
At the same time, Hanette grabbed his hand.
“… Hey. Let me ask you one thing.”
“One thing? Will you come if I answer it?”
“Yes. Just answer one question.”
Hanette’s eyes suddenly became sharp and clear.
Noticing the change in atmosphere, Zion sat back down.
“What will you do after we get married?”
“Didn’t we decide not to interfere with each other?”
“What about having children?”
“Oh, that? Now you’re being serious.”
Zion smiled faintly, seeing through Hanette’s thoughts.
Even if she planned to run away, there would be hesitations.
The escape plan wasn’t guaranteed to succeed, and even if it did, it would harm her family.
So, she kept contemplating to find a reasonable solution.
“I’ll do as you wish. I don’t mind.”
“Are you saying I don’t have to have children?”
“If it’s something we both need to do, we should agree. It’s a forced marriage, but we must stick to that.”
“You could force me, though.”
“It’s fine to paint me as the bad guy… but do you really think I could?”
Before obtaining the magic sword, Zion could never beat Hanette.
If Hanette wanted, she could use magic to kill him.
He didn’t want to provoke her and risk his life.
“Answer me properly. I’m not in the mood for jokes.”
“You know better than anyone. I’m being used in this marriage. Fighting you would only hurt me. I might get scolded by both sides, but I can endure it.”
“… You’d really do that?”
“If I try and it doesn’t work, we’ll find another way.”
“What if it still doesn’t work?”
“Then you’ll have to decide. You promised to come with me now.”
Zion stood up and pointed towards the door.
Hanette glared at him for a while before standing up.
“Your answer is a bit off.”
“Even when I do what you ask, you’re not satisfied?”
“Did you really do as I asked?”
“I wasn’t joking earlier. How about trusting me?”
Hanette pondered his words and followed quietly.
For some reason, the alcohol seemed to wear off.
Zion’s silver hair appeared especially dazzling today.
“Then make me believe you…”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing, if you didn’t hear it.”
“… You have a natural talent for driving people crazy.”
“What? I didn’t catch that.”
“Never mind.”
* *
Adelaira Duke’s mansion, Hanette’s room.
Zion helped Hanette into her room.
She seemed to walk fine at first but soon stumbled, forcing Zion to support her.
Yenid saw Hanette’s drunken state but merely checked on her briefly before leaving quietly.
“Yawn, I’m sleepy.”
“You’re sleepy now? Good grief…”
Zion shuddered as he laid Hanette on the bed.
She quickly found a blanket and pulled it over herself.
“Is she really drunk? I feel like I’m being tricked.”
“You could have just left me.”
“What do you think would happen to me if I left you?”
“So you had to bring me. Hehe.”
Hanette laughed and closed her eyes.
Zion chuckled softly and turned away.
They were back at the mansion, so the maids would handle the rest.
“Oh, wait.”
Hanette suddenly grabbed Zion’s hand.
Zion frowned and looked back at her.
“What now?”
“Everyone else, leave.”
At Hanette’s command, the maids quickly exited.
Zion gave her a sidelong glance before approaching the bed.
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Come closer.”
“Just say it from there.”
“Oh, come on.”
Hanette didn’t let go of Zion’s hand.
Sighing, Zion bent over reluctantly.
The smell of alcohol and her faint perfume lingered.
“Now, what is it?”
“… I had a good idea.”
“What idea?”
“Stay here a bit longer.”
“Why?”
“It’ll look like we did something together. Isn’t it fun? Hehe.”
Hanette smiled brightly for the first time, her eyes relaxed.
Zion looked at her skeptically but was a little curious.
“Fooling Duke Adelaira and your wife?”
“You don’t like this marriage either. Wouldn’t this at least make you feel better?”
“Hmm… What do we gain from tricking them?”
“A petty revenge? A small satisfaction? Unexpected fun?”
“Trying to make me a bad guy? I want to live honestly.”
“Oh, and one more thing. You’ll gain my trust. Even if it’s not much.”
Hanette hooked her pinky finger and curled it slightly.
Zion slowly stood up with a weary expression.
“If I refuse, you’ll probably say something outrageous.”
“We agreed to cooperate. You must keep your promise.”
“It’s getting late… I’ll stay for a bit.”
Zion moved quickly, locking the door and drawing the curtains.
He also placed a chair by the bed.
“Thorough, huh?”
“I have to be. If we make a sound, it’ll seem real, so be quiet.”
“Hehe… I’ll help then.”
Hanette kicked off the blanket and quickly unbuttoned her coat.
Zion, shocked, grabbed her hands.
“What are you doing?”
“We need to look like we did something.”
“… Do it moderately. Just enough to make them suspicious.”
“Oh, right?”
Hanette tossed her coat aside and unbuttoned a few buttons on her shirt.
Then, she pulled the blanket back over herself.
“Better now?”
“Geez… Next time, warn me before undressing.”
“Why? Were you excited?”
“Not excited, just exasperated.”
“I think I’m pretty exciting, don’t you?”
“Not at all. Just be quiet.”
“Wanna check? Once you see…”
Hanette’s hand moved towards her shirt again.
Zion grabbed her hand.
“What are you trying to see?”
“Isn’t it okay to look?”
“You’ll regret it in the morning.”
“Hmm… really?”
Hanette relaxed her grip, looking up at Zion.
Zion finally released her hand and sat in the chair.
“How long will you stay?”
“Until you fall asleep.”
“Staying all night?”
“I’ll leave when it’s time, so be quiet.”
“I’ll try. Yawn…”
Hanette yawned and slowly closed her eyes.
Zion felt fatigue wash over him, letting his arms droop.
‘Trying to sleep right after saying that?’
Zion touched her nose, confirming she was asleep.
‘Why am I doing this? She’s such a handful as a fiancée.’
* *
Adelaira Duke’s mansion, master’s room.
Robbenz and Yenid received long-awaited news from a maid.
Zion hadn’t left Hanette’s room.
This was a good sign and could lead to the desired outcome.
“Didn’t I say it would work if we just put them together?”
“… It’s too early to tell.”
“Too early?”
“They could just be talking.”
Yenid had a gut feeling.
Hanette wouldn’t easily accept Zion.
She hadn’t allowed any noble children to approach her, so how could she accept someone she just got engaged to?
“Even just talking is good. Things are going my way.”
“Shouldn’t we wait a bit longer?”
“If it’s certain, we can arrange the marriage immediately. Marquis Laird has agreed.”